The journey of a vegetarian over two years with only three pairs of shoes!

March 20, 2010

Simple as 1 2 3

Growing up in America has instilled in me that one of the big milestones in a person's life is their first real job. Its portrayed in movies and TV as this major step towards being an adult. The story is always the same. You get out of college filled with hope and ideals and you find this perfect job. After preparing nervously for the interview and living through it, a phone call a few days later delivers the good news to which you quickly respond "I'll Take it!" It usually doesn't pay and it never turns out to be what you hoped, but for that one moment you see yourself as an adult.

Well let me tell you its not that simple. After completing Peace Corps I always planned on spending the summer with my family and then moving for a job in the fall. I knew what I wanted to do but I didn't know where I wanted to do it. I was lucky enough to be offered a job before I even began my search. I would be back in New Orleans working with animals and I hadn't even had to apply, a dream come true. Then reality struck. After counting on this job for months it turned out that the salary wasn't something I was willing to accept. I was crushed. It was now September and I hadn't even applied anywhere else. So I picked myself up and started applying all over the place.

Ideally I wanted to be in an animal shelter but I knew with the economy the way it was that I needed to be more open minded. I started applying for positions with all types of non-profit organizations. I hadn't lost my mind or soul yet so where as I was willing to look at different non-profits I wasn't willing to work for a for profit company. I applied to jobs everyday and perfected the art of a cover letter. As time passed and as events unfolded I came to realize a sad reality, when one chooses to work for an ideal and not a pay check, professionalism falls by the wayside.

I am not usually comfortable making generalizations, but I stand by my statement. I have been rejected from a job with an animal organization because I am only vegetarian and not vegan. I have been asked to interview on a saturday only to show up and find the entire office closed and locked. I have had to justify that my zip code shouldn't disqualify me for a position. I was then offered the job but the phrasing wasn't so much "We would love for you to join us" as it was actually phrased "Against my better judgment I am offering you the position". Throughout this whole process I have stayed firmly rooted in my desire to only work for an organization that I believe in. I am lucky enough to have an amazing Mom that supports me and has never even hinted at pressuring me to "just get a job". I know that if it weren't for her I would have had to give up my ideals a long time ago for a paycheck.

Even though this process has been hard and it has, at times, made me think that I am not as great as I think I am, the thing that saddens me the most is that I have lost faith in the people I used to aspire to be like. Growing up I was always taught that its more important to do something that you love and believe in, than to do something because of the paycheck. I am not so naive that I don't know this is a privileged ideal. But even today when I know my bank account and organic food addiction will suffer, I can't even imagine working for something I don't truly and deeply believe in. I miss work. I miss the long hours, the endless amount of work, the chaos, the stress, and even the knowledge that once you get home the work doesn't really stop. I can't wait to get back in the thick of it but right now that looks like an unattainable goal because of the unprofessionalism that stands in my way.

I have had executive directors call me on my cell phone five minutes after I have emailed them my resume begging for me to come down as soon as possible. Then when I have tired to find out more information about the job they have admitted they don't really understand their own organizations hiring process and have no idea when the job they wanted me for will be available. Recently I contacted the HR person for a job that I was over qualified for, to see why they hadn't contacted me in over a month. They responded by saying that they didn't receive requested information from me and thus didn't consider me an applicant. The beauty of email is that you can clearly trace its history and when I scrolled down one email I clearly saw the attached requested information. I pointed this out and that they had received in two months prior so then they changed the reason to being that they hadn't received proof that I graduated from college. I then provided them with electronic proof that they had also received that two months prior and then they stopped responding to my emails. The lack of communication and organization I have encountered makes me surprised any non-profit gets anything done.

This job search has been a learning experience good and bad. I have learned how to negotiate as well as professionally express my desires and my qualifications. I have learned a lot about how non-profits work and what kind of environment I succeed in. I have also learned that even if the job description is ideal the people you work with can make it hell. I was lucky enough to work for a non-profit that employed amazing people that inspired me and pushed me every day. Even as I type this rant I know my generalization cannot hold true because the people I know well in the non-profit world do an amazing job. As I have pushed through this its been the people close to me that have told me my struggles are not in vain. My former boss Laura Maloney has been a beacon of hope. She has put up with constant emails from me as well as providing references and general support. I can't thank her enough for all that she has done for me. My friends and family have put up with my constant stress and endless stories that all contain the theme "I must be the crazy one because its impossible that everyone I encounter is this crazy". Poor Rob, every time something goes wrong, he takes it harder than I do.

I wish I could end this long post in a nice little bow by saying that the struggle paid off and I am employed, but thats the american fairy tale and not my current reality. Instead I end with an email I sent to an organization who has failed to breakthrough the non-profit stereotype of incompetence.

Dear Ms X,

I am emailing you to express my distress with how things have

progressed since I met with you in December. I flew out to your

office not once but twice for interviews and was prompt with all

information you requested of me. I followed up with you when I didn't

hear any news a month after our meeting and you responded by saying that you would get back to me asap. It is now the middle of

March and I still haven't heard from you. I believe that after 3

interviews with your organization I deserve the courtesy of hearing

the final word on the selection process no matter the outcome for me

personally. I believe I have conducted myself in a professional

manner and I would have hoped for similar professionalism from your

organization. I am sure you have selected a very well qualified

individual for the position and I wish you organization all the best

in its future endeavors. Meg

Whenever I do get a job I promise I will not let the number on my paycheck determine my level of dedication and professionalism. Now I just need the job....